Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s lead negotiator at the Istanbul peace talks on May 16, 2025, embarrassed himself and his country with a historically inaccurate analogy and a series of deranged threats that expose his ineptitude. In an attempt to intimidate the Ukrainian delegation, Medinsky referenced the Great Northern War (1700–1721), where Russia, under Peter the Great, fought Sweden for 21 years.

As peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia commence in Istanbul, reports indicate that the Kremlin has issued directives to pro-government media outlets on how to portray the talks. These instructions suggest a strategic move to manage public expectations and preemptively frame any unfavorable outcomes. According to RBC-Ukraine, citing information from Meduza, Russian media received guidelines from the Kremlin’s political bloc regarding the coverage of the Istanbul negotiations.